1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Story

When the Mazda MX-5 Miata reached American driveways in 1989 as a 1990 model, it single-handedly revived the affordable, lightweight roadster, a breed the British and Italians had built passionately for decades and then all but abandoned. Inspired openly by classics like the Lotus Elan, Mazda's engineers deliberately chased feel over outright numbers, obsessing over steering weight, exhaust note and the satisfying click of the gearshift. The goal was joy, not horsepower, and that clarity of purpose set the little car apart from everything else on the market.

The recipe was simple and brilliant. A 1.6-liter twin-cam four sent 116 horsepower to the rear wheels through a slick five-speed manual, and a curb weight of roughly 2,100 pounds meant the open two-seater felt far livelier than its 9.2-second zero-to-sixty time suggested. Near-perfect front-to-rear balance, quick reflexes and a crisp, short-throw shifter made every back road an event. The Miata rewarded smoothness and involvement rather than brute force, turning ordinary drives into something memorable. A low cowl, a snug cockpit and a top that dropped in seconds with one hand only deepened the bond between car and driver.

Mazda kept the concept pure by keeping it light. Base cars famously skipped power steering, air conditioning and even a radio to hold down both weight and the $13,800 launch price, leaving the driver and the road as the main attractions. Buyers and critics adored the result, and the Miata swept a wall of honors including Automobile Magazine's Automobile of the Year and repeated appearances on Car and Driver's coveted 10Best list. It instantly became the benchmark by which every affordable sports car would be judged.

The first-generation NA Miata went on to become the best-selling two-seat sports car in history, with hundreds of thousands sold before production of the original design ended in 1997. Its pure, joyful, back-to-basics character still defines the model more than three decades later. With values for clean early examples now climbing steadily, an original 1990 Miata remains one of the most rewarding and accessible entry points into classic-car ownership. Its enormous parts supply, devoted club community and sheer affordability ensure the original roadster will keep delighting new enthusiasts for generations to come.